Windows build info about rnote HOT 13 CLOSED

Should have mentioned this here too, I already experimented with a windows build and documented my steps here.

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To not show the cmd window on windows when app launches you have to mark app as gui adding cli flag '-mwindows' should do the trick. More info: http://users.wfu.edu/cottrell/cross-gtk/

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There is this docker image that could be used to cross-compile to windows, if anyone wants to have a go at it. https://github.com/MGlolenstine/gtk4-cross

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Today I was able to get rnote building on Windows (wasn't too hard in the end). I'll do my best to explain the process here.

1. Follow these instructions to install Rust
2. Follow the instructions to setting up MSYS2
3. Run the following command in either a MSYS2 MSYS terminal or in a MSYS2 Mingw64 terminal

pacman -S mingw-w64-x86_64-cmake mingw-w64-x86_64-pkg-config mingw-w64-x86_64-meson mingw-w64-x86_64-gtk4 mingw-w64-x86_64-libadwaita mingw-w64-x86_64-poppler

4. Run meson setup --prefix={INSTALL_PREFIX} _mesonbuild
   You can set {INSTALL_PREFIX} to any directory you like.
5. Run meson compile -C _mesonbuild
6. If you wish to install it, run meson install -C _mesonbuild. If using C:/Program\ Files/rnote or similar as the install directory you MUST elevate permissions to admin level. I use gsudo for this (further steps will also require admin rights).
7. The step above will fail. Unfortunately (at the time of writing) some manual work is required to fix this.
8. In the _mesonbuild directory, you will see an executable called rnote.exe. Copy, paste and rename to rnote
9. Rerun meson install -C _mesonbuild
10. Rename to {INSTALL_PREFIX}/bin/rnote to {INSTALL_PREFIX}/bin/rnote.exe
11. Open a terminal in {INSTALL_PREFIX}/share/glib-2.0/schemas and run this command glib-compile-schemas.exe .
12. Double click on rnote.exe in File Explorer and rnote will run. 🙂

Optional

13. To create a start menu shortcut, right click on rnote.exe in File Explorer and select Create shortcut. Windows will then ask if you want it created on the desktop. Click "Yes". Then move/copy (depending whether you would like a desktop shortcut as well) the shortcut to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

Screenshot

Additional Notes

• Unfortunately there is no app icon for rnote
• A console appears (although this may be my fault based on the commands I used to build rnote)
• The system colors button does not work (in screenshot I had to set it to dark even though the system theme is set to dark)
• Not sure why the install step fails (unfortunately I don't have the time to get the specific error messages right this moment, sorry). But once this is resolved I am happy to create a GitHub Action script to build a Windows version of rnote
• If you wish I can open a PR that adds the building on Windows information to CONTRIBUTING.md
• If there is anything that you feel needs fine tuning (or that I've missed key information), let me know so I can update the instructions 🙂

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@iwoithe If you would be willing to create a script, that would be very nice. On my machine I am getting a lot of UTF8 validation errors though, resulting in a lot of blank labels in the app, did you experience that too?

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For windows a python script might be better. It could then be extended to create a installer at some point I think? If somebody has expertise with that and would like to help, I would really appreciate it!

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Whatever works best for you! I read that Inno is most pleasant to write and the only real downside is that it can only produce .exe files, not MSI. But I don't really think we need to worry about this at the moment.

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I think this should be solved, there are (currently) up to date and tested instruction how to build on windows available here: https://github.com/flxzt/rnote/blob/main/misc/building/rnote-windows-build.md

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I think you're refering to what is now in BUILDING.md, but there never were any build instructions for windows.
But if someone manages to do it, please report back so I can add them, maybe we could even ship a installer (although linux / flatpk will probably stay the target I am focusing on the most)

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Can I build it with cargo?

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No, rnote uses meson as its build system

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On my machine I am getting a lot of UTF8 validation errors though, resulting in a lot of blank labels in the app, did you experience that too?

I haven't actually re-built it in a few weeks but I will check if this occurs for me within the next few days (this was not an issue when I built rnote the first time).

@iwoithe If you would be willing to create a script, that would be very nice.

I am happy to do this. Would you like it to be a Bash or Python script?

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For windows a python script might be better.

I'll start working on it.

It could then be extended to create a installer at some point I think?

Yeah, this would be good. I am happy to do this. I'd prefer using Inno Setup as that is what I've had experience in but I am fine to use another setup installer creator if you wish.

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